𝟚.𝟟: 𝕀𝕥 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝔹𝕖 ℙ𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕝𝕪 ℂ𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕊𝕠𝕠𝕟 𝔼𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙

—Narrator's perspective—

Arabella pulled a random girl from the street, compelling her to shut up. She just sinked her teeth in her neck, sucking the girl's blood eagerly. She was not like this. Not at all. But everything inside her was telling her to not think about Hope and distract herself. And it is working.

"Enough enough of that, Bella-Luna." Sebastian called out, pulling the girl's shoulder off of the random girl. He compelled the innocent townie to forget about it and let her heal using his blood. "You've been doing this for quite some time now."

Arabella scoffed, panting while she wiped the blood off the corner of her lip as she did so. Her gaze wandered around town, not knowing what to do with anything anymore. It's not like the chest pain stopped. In fact, it grew more and more unbearable by the second she breathed.

"I don't know why you keep me in line. Can I see the Sebastian who slaughtered villages?" She asked, wanting to earn a reaction and push him away.

"You've gone unstable." He pointed out the obvious making Arabella roll her eyes.

"I've been unstable since I became a vampire, Sebastian. Now, you wouldn't your Elizabeth to spot you in town now, would you?" She asked, pointing at the twins who was walking towards the center of town.

Sebastian's eyes grew wide, never expecting the blonde to come in town. He growled, looking at the vampire besides her, holding an innocent look at him. "You will come back to that school. You hear me?" He warned before speeding away.

Arabella laughed at how her new friend reacted, eyes wandering to the twins and stopped functioning properly when she saw Hope among them. She looked away just as Josie spotted her by a distance. She didn't need her hearing abilities to know that Josie informed them of her presence in town.

The Blonde was simply walking in the streets, keys to her car on one hand as she tossed it up and down, smoothly catching it just as much. She also didn't need any of her senses to know the three by the bench was looking her way.

With everything that happened, nobody blamed her of her actions. Everyone would act the same if they were Arabella with very sensitive and heightened emotions than none other.

To avoid everyone who cared about her genuinely, she enrolled back to the Salvatore School, no choice but to take her place back to her old dorm with her girlfriend. Or was it ex now? She really didn't know.

Then she found out Alaric knew that Hope came from Malivore. Even more betrayed, she distanced herself from everyone and anyone who even tried to get close to her.

She looked to the three witches again, talking to someone and it looked like it was another monster so she immediately walked to her car, opening her car doors. Arabella hopped in with a content sigh, felt a pulsating heartbeat occur, slamming its way to her chest. Almost as if it wanted to explose.

The girl closed her eyes, humming painfully while she held her hand to her chest. She turned the keys, igniting the engine on. Arabella couldn't care less if she crashed her car so she drove to the boarding school knowing she is having another attack.

Ignoring it, she parked in the garage when she arrived. Also not bothering to care about what the others who she passed on the hallways was talking about. Her feet lead her to her room, closing it shut with a content sigh.

Arabella tossed her keys directly to her bed, stopped in her tracks as she did so. She looked around the room, genuinely this time. Everything remained the same but Hope's stuff was gone. It has been gone since she jumped in Malivore.

Her door knocked making her turn around, seeing Josie pop her head out. Before the vampire could even ask, she spoke. "Hope's planning on leaving. Could use your help." She said suddenly.

"I— She's what?" She sneered, following the siphoner in anger. "After all that mess, She's choosing to leave." Arabella whispered, pondering her head while the ache in her chest worsened.

"We have a plan. But um... You're not gonna like it."

☘︎︎

Just as Hope was about to board her bus, she spots Landon looking at her directly. She frowned, about to speak but he beat her to it when they were close enough to talk.

"Don't go. Arabella needs you— she is spiralling." Landon begged, practically ready to get on his knees and plead to the tribrid.

"I uh— I have to. I need to find a way to close that portal, Landon." She said sternly, not letting his words faze her because she clearly missed Arabella.

Landon shook his head. "We will figure it out. Right here in Mystic Falls. It's just that— Arabella needs you before she loses herself too." He explained, being that as a wake up call to the girl in front of him who looked madly confused.

"Are you kidding me? I heard all of that!" Arabella spoke up from behind Hope. Landon (the real one) was about to explain but she gave him a glare which he backed down from. "You are not leaving." She directed her direction to Hope, looking back and forth to fake Landon and the real one.

"What the hell is happening?" She asked confused, also heart was thumping inside her chest upon seeing a certain blonde besides them.

☘︎︎

"SimuLandon. I used the prism to manifest my subconscious, and then Josie turned him into a golem." Landon explained then SimuLandon waved at Arabella who was besides the real one. "Show her."

SimuLandon pulled his shirt down, revealing the prism that is stuck on his chest. "We're gonna use him as a decoy. We'll let the sphinx take him into the portal."

"I don't want to go into the portal." SimuLandon spoke up, looking at the real on in confusion. "I wanna stay here. Help Arabella see that she just needs Hope to keep her sane. They make up, everything's right again!" He cheered in delight.

"Um. Shut him up." Arabella nudged Landon who couldn't do anything. He was, to say the least, enjoying this part.

"I didn't realize he'd be so vocal. And fast. He ran away after we created him. He first went to Arabella, rambling on and on about how she needs to come clear to her feelings. Then to you." He explained, Arabella standing up in frustration, pacing before she hurts Landon's subconscious.

Hope went silent, looking at the blonde in guilt but still, held a loving look of comfort. A sense of relief flush over her when she saw a reaction from the girl.

"Simu-me will disintegrate."

SimuLandon stammered, looking at the Vampire and Phoenix. "What? Uh, no one told me about that part!"

"How does that close the portal?" Hope asked, directing her focus on the task in hand. Arabella felt her heart pick up its pace when the two locked eyes. It stayed that way for a solid 5 seconds before they both turned away in unison.

"That's where you come in. We need to pump SimuLandon full of Hope's blood, so when he goes in, the Tribrid blood will close the portal."

Hope shook her head. "My blood's not enough to keep the portal closed. I have to activate my vampire side. Malivore is just gonna spit him out and create a new portal." She reasoned with.

"Not if he disintegrates before there's anything to spit out. Portal closed, no new portal opens. Both problems solved. Life goes back to normal... ish." He shrugged.

"Hope. You need to get her—" Before simuLandon could even finish that sentence, Arabella threw a pillow to his face stopping him.

"If your subconscious won't shut up, Landon, I might as well be the one to kill it." She sighed in frustration, closing her eyes to steady herself.

"Then kill me! I'm gonna die anyways. So I might as well say something I've been dreading to say since Hope came back and Arabella has gone insane." SimuLandon said finally. "Arabella is in love with Hope, Hope is in love with Arabe—"

"Ad somnum." Hope clenched her fist, having to hear enough of what he had to say. Arabella muttered a 'thank god' under her breath.

Though their situation was clear as day, Hope couldn't feel but have happiness in her heart with what SimuLandon had to say. It just annoyed Arabella but knew that deep down, Landon's subconscious is still right. No matter how much she resists it, she is love with Hope Mikaelson.

☘︎︎

Arabella walked towards Hope, the girl sitting down on her bed, the room they shared in last year. It made her heart ache of all the fresh memories she remembered. "You okay?" She can't help but ask, handing her hand out, indicating that it's time.

"Yeah..." Hope mumbled, holding her forearm up to the blonde, her sleeve up and was ready to draw blood. When Arabella placed the needle inside her skin, it didn't even faze the tribrid as she just looked at the blonde with content eyes. "I..." She started, Arabella gesturing for her to continue. "I'm sorry. For not telling you who I was in the first place."

Arabella nodded, sitting by Hope's legs on the bed. "I understand. I wouldn't just threw myself to you when you say I'm in love with you and you're in love with me." She acknowledged more calmly. "And also, I was being immature." She added.

"I miss you." Hope whispered, not minding if her feelings will ruin what they have right now.

"I do too." She whispered honestly, the walls surrounding her was breaking by a simple conversation. "Just... tell me if you need anything. Okay?" Arabella asked, not even regretting on lowering her guard. Because if it's Hope, She knew that Hope will take care of her for the good.

"I just need you here." Hope said, relaxing her back to the pillows, instantly smelling Arabella's shampoo and natural scent.

Arabella nodded, scooting closer to the girl and held her hand. "Just relax. It will be a lot of blood." She informed, Hope's thumb running across her skin which gave her comfort.

"She won't relax if you two are together. Cause you know, her heart literally explodes when she sees you, Ara." SimuLandon spoke up, causing the two girls to roll their eyes.

"Who knew Landon is keeping all of that inside him."

☘︎︎

Arabella's figure was sitting down besides Hope who insisted to do it. It wasn't exactly what she wanted but she couldn't say no when Hope is literally being used as a blood bag. Then again, no complaints happened.

"You were leaving town." Arabella whispered, boredly looking over the girl who opened her eyes when she spoke.

"I don't want to stay because I don't want to be where I'm not welcome." She spoke truthfully, only causing guilt to Arabella who took in every word.

"Hope." She called out in seriousness. "As much as I was mad for you not telling me, I told you that I'm not going anywhere. You are stuck with me, whether you like it or not." Her tone was soft, more calm and loving. It definitely was the cause of Hope Mikaelson smiling.

Hope nodded, wanting to hug her but can't as she was weak from her blood being drained. "I was going to tell you the truth. The night of the decade dance, found you in the docks."

"Why didn't you? I pretty much spilled my heart out about the girl in my dreams. Oh wait, it was you in my dreams." She pointed our, a curved smile landed on Hope's lips. "Can we talk? Properly. After all this mess is over."

Hope nodded, not hesitating and not even thinking of not talking about this— about them and what they do. When it was time, Lizzie took SimuLandon from them, the boy saying a heartfelt goodbye to the two girls in bed (not in that way).

"Now. You, rest." Arabella said, not up for debate because she could see how tired Hope is and already had her eyes closed. The Vampire smiled, brushing away a strand of hair that was blocking Hope's face.

The girl lets out a sigh, sitting on the edge of the bed. Didn't stop herself from studying every feature of Hope's face. For the first, she admired the girl very dearly. The void inside her heart was filled the moment her memories came back, all of if.

Arabella couldn't help herself, leaning down to place a light kiss on Hope's forehead, eyes shut. When she backed away, the blonde exhaled.

"Hey. Landon's calling you in the docks." Alaric walked inside the room, seeing an unconscious Hope and a quiet Arabella who nodded.

"Can you..." Arabella stood up, standing eye to eye to the human who waited for her to finish what she was about to say. "Look over her? I'll come back." She finally said, Ric nodding in agreement.

Arabella turned to look at the Tribrid, having to shake her head before leaving the room. She didn't want to but still, it was not her place to just stay like everything has resolved between them.

"Hey— what happened?" Arabella ran to their direction, seeing Landon in chains and Rafael wanting to stop him.

"Ara! Clarke is back and he's been impersonating Professor Vardemus." Landon informed, making the girl frown at him confusely. "We have this whole plan in action." He said, starting to tell her what they will do to deceive Clarke.

"Then what are you doing?" She asked, pointing at the chains in question. "Wait— Clarke? What's he planning? I-I need to get to Hope." Arabella stepped back, running as fast as she could.

"Goodluck, Ara!"

Arabella panted, her footsteps could be heard from a mile away. She rushed inside the school, trying to get a hear of Hope's heartbeat but it was dead silent inside. Every inch of the school was quiet, no breathings, no one walking around.

She didn't mind it, walking over to her dorm, seeing the door destroyed. "Hope?" She called, kicking it open but to her disappointment, no one was here.

Her eyes darted to the window that was opened, someone jumped from out of there. Arabella leaned on the ledge, looking down and the relief she felt when she saw no one was justifying.

Then, she heard it. Hope calling her name from a distance. Arabella jumped over the metal bars, landing perfectly on the concrete floor while she rushed to two figures.

The blonde grew furious, using her vampire speed and holding Clarke's wrist that was just about to stab the girl she loves. "Get away from her." She growled, twisting Clarke's hand and threw him across the grass. "Hope." She exhaled, holding the girl in her arms who was limping.

"Bella!" Hope warned, looking over her figure where Clarke got up from her feet and was about to stab the girl.

Arabella caught his wrist using her forearms, having to struggle on defending herself. "I jump in your body and I jump into Hope's. A cliché, don't you think?" He asked in between breaths, inching closer and closer to stab her chest.

Behind the blonde, Arabella has yet to struggle on keeping Hope behind her. Hope wanted to do something— anything but her loss of blood was too much for her to even fight the blonde.

"Say your goodbyes." He said again, the edge of the trident was a close minimum to her shirt. Arabella squirmed, powerless but not quite.

Landon came up from behind them, holding Clarke's wrist. When he turned around, the two shared looks, both mad. "Hello, brother." He announced nonchalantly.

It was then that SimuLandon punched him twice, Clarke took the chance to punch Arabella in the stomach making her jerk backwards on the ground.

"I heard you scream. Are you hurt?" Landon asked the two of them, Hope knelt besides the Vampire who looked at them blankly.

"You should have jumped into the pit instead of the Tribrid." Clarke said and held his brother's shirt, grabbing a fistful of it. "My apologies, Are you and Arabella back together? The relationship drama is so hard to keep up sometimes." He mustered a chuckle.

Arabella stood up, having to wrap her arm around Hope's waist to steady her figure. "I'm so tired of hearing your voice." Hope said, glaring at him.

"Don't worry. You won't have to hear it much longer." He inched closer to them and Landon tackled him to the ground.

Arabella decided not to include herself in that fight, having the need to protect the girl besides her.

Clarke kicked Landon off of him, grabbing the trident. "I just don't get it." He panted, hovering over the Kirby.

Landon groaned before asking, "Get what?"

"What our father sees in you." Clarke kicked him in the stomach, Arabella wanting to intervene but she knew it was part of the plan. "Sure, you can regenerate, but you have no magic." He kicked him again, SimuLandon being pushed to a meter away. "Someone always has to swoop in and save you." He punched Landon in the face when he just sat up. "You're pathetic."

"I don't care what you or our father thinks of me. I only care about my friends." He said, looking over his figure where Hope swung the chains to Clarke's face making him kneel.

Arabella was in a close distance and when Clarke got the upper hand, She punched him on the face when he was about to hurt Hope. She kicked him on the stomach, Clarke holding her ankle and shoved her over, Arabella panting as she hit the back of her head on a rock.

"Sorry, Arabella, Hope. This is family business." He said, looking over the two who was on the ground. Landon yelled and kicked him behind his knee, Clarke falling on his knees.

"Okay, I'm impressed." Hope exhaled, watching Landon hold Clarke in a chokehold while catching her breath.

"Don't be. He'll always be the inferior son." He remarked, trying to get away from Landon's grasp against him.

"Well, it doesn't look like it from this angle. Just do it. You don't need her. You need me. Do it." Landon taunted.

Clarke was gripping on the trident tightly, pondering inside his head if he should do it and just get it over with. Hope protested, being the only one who didn't know what's going on.

"This is for you, Hope." Landon said just as Clarke stabbed him on the leg. He didn't make a movement, accepting his faith at all.

"Not what I planned, but at least phoenixes are immortal." Clarke said, looking over his brother who pulled his shirt down to show the crystal on his chest.

"Now you die tomorrow." SimuLandon said, the crystal on his chest was glowing a light. "Boom. I rule." He boasted.

"Oh, come on." He whined, dropping on the grass while his subconscious travels to Landon this time.

Just like that, Clarke was in Landon's body. "Well... this just took a turn." He whispered, looking at the two girls.

Arabella grabbed on Hope's chains, breaking it off for her to use her powers again. The tribrid got back to her strength, looking at Clarke. "You're gonna whammy me, aren't you?" He asked.

"I am." She nodded, still panting. Hands were together as she casted.

"Remember that I'm already dealing with the trauma of knowing I'm dying." He reminded in which the two girls said 'We will.'. "Kind of makes the whole sacrifice a little less romantic, though, no? Your girlfriend will never forgive you for leaving and in fact, she's already moved on—"

Hope drove her hand forward, blastin Clarke backwards. That was when the auburn haired girl cracked a smile, feeling powerful again.

"Well he's undeniably wrong." Arabella said, crossing her arms and felt Hope look at her in a warm smile.

☘︎︎

Arabella stirred her glass back and forth, a serving of bourbon on her hand. She was sitting on her bed, back was resting on her headboard while having her eyes closed in peace. The girl felt drained, knowing Landon left with Rafael. She sighed again, taking a sip of the burning alcohol.

She heard the door open making her eyes open to see Hope. "Hey there." Hope greeted, unsure if Arabella even wanted to see her today.

"You planning on staying?" She asked, setting down the glass on the table besides her before Hope sat down besides her, on the edge of the bed. "I could use a roommate." She suggested, the tension between the lift up.

"You don't hate me anymore?" Hope questioned, looking at the blonde who scooted closer to her.

Immediately, she shook her head. "I never hated you, Hope. Just... mad, that's all." She explained soothingly.

"Well... do you forgive me? I just need need to know if you don't." Hope hesitantly asked, avoidinf eye contact and diverted her gaze on her hand.

"If I didn't, I wouldn't offer you to come back to this room." She lightly chuckled, tilting her head a bit to her right to admire the girl quietly. "But... It's not like we can go back from where we last picked off."

Hope blinked, snapping back to reality when she heard those words. Disappointed but also understood what her decision is. "I understand." She nodded forcefully, having to look at those eyes which rendered her weakness.

"Doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?" Though her words were final, her hand couldn't stop herself from going to Hope's cheek, grazing the back of it on her skin.

"Yeah..." Hope answered, a little lost when she felt Arabella's hand on her cheek. The two stared at each other for a while, that was until they were impulsively leaned towards each other, slowly.

Arabella's eyes looked down to the girl's lips, fighting herself inside her head to stop and back away. Despite all her efforts, it all went down the drain when their lips touched.

Hope almost groaned in relief when they did, her hand finding its way to the side of Arabella's neck, resting it there while they continued to kiss.

However, by the minutes they went on, the more passionate the kiss became. Arabella almost even carried Hope to bed, hovering above her while they shared a heated kiss. Neither dared to pull away, wanting bare each other's warmth after a long time, especially Hope.

It soon got cut short when Arabella moved downwards to her neck, a small gasp and groan of satisfaction escaped Hope's mouth. She mustered the courage to speak, even though a certain blonde was finding her weak point. "What happened to friends?" She asked, making sure that Arabella won't regret anything that might happen today.

"Do you want me to stop?" Arabella asked, having her lips against the other's skin while she continued to place small kisses here and then. Hope's hands went to her hair, having to hold it tight as she squirmed.

When Hope didn't answer, Arabella took it as a decision made and went back to attacking the tribrid's lips eagerly. The two kept continuing until their clothes was off but they never regretted on what happened.

☘︎︎